Table of contentsHomelessness in the UKThe causes of homelessnessStrategies to tackle homelessnessHomelessness Act 2002/2004Homelessness -homelessness in the UK Homelessness, as a socio-economic problem, has been prevalent throughout much of human history and continues to present itself as a problem to this day, and many Western cities economically successful businesses still face this problem. In the UK, homelessness is visible in many major cities, with many causes cited such as: inequality, lack of affordable housing and the attractions of crime and drugs. This report will examine in detail these causes and the steps taken by the UK government to classify and rectify the age-old problem of homelessness. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay First of all, it is relevant to define homelessness as it exists today. Homelessness, in its simplest form, is defined as the absence of a permanent residence or official or legally recognized place to stay and is therefore often synonymous with “sleeping on the streets” (Polakow and Guillean 2001). However, in the UK there are five tests that a person must pass to be considered officially homeless according to the social housing register. These tests are: Is the person intentionally homeless? Is the person eligible for assistance? Does the person have a local connection?Is the person homeless?Does the person have a priority need?Causes of homelessnessThe causes of homelessness are often linked to many socio-economic barriers and are often deeply rooted in various social groups, often the most vulnerable and least advantaged. - affluent people, homelessness can also more negatively affect more transient communities and groups, such as immigrants and refugees (DeVerteuil 2011). At first glance, homelessness is often seen as a purely economic circumstance, with unemployment, lack of education and class struggles cited as the main causes of homelessness. However, there are a myriad of different causes that can be linked to homelessness, chief among them social problems, drug use and crime which are linked because of the strain they can place not only on property -mental and physical being of a person, but also on the serious economic consequences. which can lead to the loss of one’s home or career (Fitzpatrick et al 2011). Several studies have also linked institutional problems to homelessness, such as serving time in a correctional facility or being on welfare as a child, with many former soldiers and other armed persons. It has been found that armed forces employees are more likely to become homeless again due to the mental strain these events can have on a person's mental well-being (Del Casino Jr and Jocoy 2008) . Many modern studies have also focused on the mental and psychoanalytic factors that can lead to poor mental health and, conversely, an eventual descent into homelessness. These studies have uncovered many key signifiers in the minds of their subjects that increase the likelihood of ending up homeless. These signifiers include: addictive personality traits often linked to drug use or an "excessive reliance on crime", systemic damage caused by a It has also been shown.